Trump Launches 'Stand for the National Anthem' Petition

The petition was launched on Thursday by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, and is the U.S. president's latest move to target the wave of protests that has seen NFL players "take a knee" while the national anthem is played before games.

Donald Trump refuses to take a knee when it comes to countering the wave of national anthem protests across the NFL.

President Trump has started a petition in support of standing for the National Anthem, and is urging Americans to sign it. But a post from the president's private Twitter account early Wednesday morning indicated otherwise.

No formal action has been taken against protesters, however. Total disrespect for our great country!

The NFL and NFLPA released a statement Tuesday describing the meeting as "productive" and a step in the right direction to "promote positive social change and address inequality". And we're going to continue to work on these issues within the community. The statement also stressed that "everyone who is part of our National Football League community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military".

From the moment back in August past year that Colin Kaepernick knelt, he took pains to describe it as a respectful but pointed protest against police killings of African-American men, and the lack of accountability thereof.

Players across the league doubled down by kneeling, locking arms, and sometimes sitting for the anthem after the president called on owners to fire players who did so.

"The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem", he wrote. "We spent today talking about the issues that players have been trying to bring attention to - issues to make our communities better. that was the entire focus of today".

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